The Irish standard., 1887-12-24
FATHER RI0RDAN is DEAD.
The Friend Of Homeless Immigrant
Girls Passes Calmly
Away.
HIS DEATH CAUSED BY A COLD.
He Toiled for the Friendless Arriving on
Our Shores and Els Last Thoughts
Were of Them.

| We're of Them.
New York World, December Is.
There was an air OF desolation about
| Castle Garden yesterday. Father John
Joseph Riordan was dead aud everybody
felt that he had lost friend. HIS death
was unexpected. He was young and
vigorous and most untiring in his work.
December he went to Staten Island
to Gel. brate luass over the remains of
his friend Father Lewis. Exposure
brought on a cold and, despite medical
advice to remain within doors, he in
sisted upon going about his many du-
ties. Bronchitis set in. complicated by
asthma and congestion of the lungs.
December Z he sought the care and at
tention Of the staff in st. Vincent's
hospital, but he did not rally, aud OF
Wednesday evening his aged mother,
whose sole support he was, came from
her home at No. 3O1 West Forty second
street TO bid good bye forever to the
son OF whom she WAS SO proud. Death
came at q few minutes past 10 yesterday
morning Mrs. Riordan was at the bed
side with Rev Or. Thnrley and several
sisters OF the hospital. He was calm
and se}f-possessed to the last, and the
fnal words uttered before the disease
closed bis throat forever, were upon his
work: Look out for the poor immi-
grant girls.''
For years this had been the keynote
of his life work, and he is known all
over this country and abroad as tlls
founder of the mission at Castle Gar
den. and INTO this he had passed natu-
rally from his other clerical work in
this city. He was q New York bog,
born in Mulberry street May S, 1851.
His father died when the priest was &
child Of three years, and from that time
he was destined for the priesthood. lie
was the favorite scholar Of the teachers
in st. Patrick's school. and Father
Starr, with Bishop McNiernsy. now of
Albany, predicted bright future for
the clever little scholar. at the age of
six he was a good Latin reader, and
was altar boy in the old Cathedral and
in the Sisters Chapel in Houston street.
Young ESiordan went to ST. Francis
XAvier's Jesuit college in West Six
teenth street, and again distinguished
himself by his exemplary scholarship.
lie was graduated with honors III 1855,
and to complete his clerical studies
went to st. Joseph's Seminary, Troy.
March, 19, 1874, he was ordained as a
priest by Bishop McNierney. He was
assigned as assistant to Father Gabriel
"A. Heajy at St. Bernardo S church in this
city. Here he )abored with great sue
cess and popularity for nearly ten
years, In 1883 he was specially ap-
pointed by Cardinal McCloskey to take
charge OF the Castle Garden work. Hs
had become familiar with the needs of
such q mission while attached to ST..
Bernard's. Itwas at first intended 20
make the new mission a connection Of
St. Peters church i'll Barclay street,
but it was soon found that working
chapel close by the Garden was needed.
Father Riordan also discovered that
arriving aliens needed something more
substantial than priests blessing, and
he soon had a list Of we'll guaranteed
boarding houses, to which he sent cases
demanding special care or protection
His mission was then little more than
an Office in Castle Garden, which the
commissioners had placed at his dispo-
sal, but his work demanded 2 mission
house in which temporal as we'll as
spiritual needs could be met.
The old Ludlow House, No. Z State
street, was purchased and a neat chapel
built within its walls. A large dormi-
tory, refectory aud apartments for the
matron and the priest in charge were
also fitted up. It is large building.
with plot 52x1O7 feet, and cost $780,
COO. OF this sum $4,000 remains on
bond and mortgage. The Mission of
Our Lady of the Rosary found its sup
port entirely in voluntary contributions
and the fame Of the work which Father
Riordan was doing brought him in
abundant funds and he was in hopes Of
paying off the entire mortgage on the
home within a short time. In March
la>tthe Archbishop and his council de-
.cided upon making Father Riordan a
parish priest, and a parish was cut out
OF st. Andrews 1t took in the lower
part Of the city from Wall street south
and down Broadway to Battery place
and thence TO the North river. The
Castle Garden remained it's central
point of work. Father Riordan had se-
lected st. Mary, Star Of the Sea, as thei